Sam the Ham

OK - after waiting on the installer, he finally pitched and checked the solar panels. He came down with a cable that was ostensibly connecting the panels IN PARALLEL that a previous installer had put in. There was an adapter that he removed as well. The panels are now in series and delivering 100V - dropping down to 97V occasionally. That done he made the changes to the inverter and the solar symbol has now stopped flashing. The LCD panel indication now shows that Utility and the Solar panels are charging the batteries. Batteries reached full in quick time. House worked off the batteries the entire afternoon and evening, dropping down to 2 LEDs (50% level) towards 21h00. That was yesterday. This morning 07h00, the battery was down to 1 LED and charging was from both Escom and Solar (sun was hardly up ?). This charging combination carried on ALL DAY with the battery showing just 2 LEDs. It was only towards 5.00 p.m. that it went to 3 LEDs and still charging and Escom was ByPassing the system and powering the house. By 19.30 there were 4 LEDS but still charging. Ten minutes ago - 21.00 the battery is fully charged and we are now on batteries. Everything appears to be working normally now. However, the nagging question is - why did it take all of this morning and afternoon for the batteries to charge to 50% ? Looks like we have one more hurdle.... Thanks all for your input and suggestions.

Hi Coulomb The inverter is charging the batteries with the source being Escom. When the batteries are full, they take over and supply the house. However, the Solar symbol still flashes. The installer made up his own LAN cable but that did not change anything - the solar symbol is still flashing. What I found after the installer had left is that there is no voltage or current coming from the solar panels. Perhaps it has not been connected up to the Inverter - I would think this is the likelihood....installer coming back next week. Regards Sam the hAM

Hi Coulomb Apparently the supplier says that the long LAN cable is not the right one. They will get another one across to us next week. As far as I know, it is part of the BMS. Both batteries today are fully charged. The LEDs are showing maximum. The Inverter display shows that the house is operating off the batteries but the Solar Panel symbol still flashes - has been all of yesterday afternoon and today. I presume that indicates that the solar panels were not part of the charging although I had set Menu 16 to CSO - solar has priority charging, in its absence, Utility takes over. so not sure why this is the case. BTW the 4 panels are 250W each. As a test to check the duration of the batteries, we have switched the Utility out of the circuit and the house is running entirely off the batteries, even the fridge. The kettle, which we use often, also works off the batteries. I have noted the time we did the switchover and will observe the length of time the batteries will hold out. Thanks for being there to guide me along ! Sam the Ham

The installer came in this afternoon...shaking his head ! He checked the system and went throught he set up and still no charge going to the Slave. He made a 'phone call and pulled out the Lan Cable between the Inverter and Master Battery....all of a sudden the Slave showed that it was taking a charge ! Now we have to determine if the cable is at fault. Installer is taking the cable back to the supplier of the battery....so we will only find out later. Is the Lan cable not an essential to monitor the state of the batterioes?? Thanks all. Will report back. Sam the Ham

Thanks to Topp, Coulomb and Paul Greef. Yes, there is a LAN Cable connecting the two batteries. Paul may have a point. I will go and activate the switch again for more than the 2 seconds usually mentioned... Just checked. It is not a press button switch but a 0/I toggle and it is On. I've tugged on the LAN cables and they are securely attached. Was a bit busy during the day so did not check daytime PV Voltage or current delivered. Unfortunately the User Manual is a tiny booklet - 1/2 of an A5 page and i'm getting to the stage of being visually challenged. I think it may be a Menu setting that was missed.... which one ?? Thanks for all the help so far - very much appreicated.

Hi Everyone. Here comes a totally new green one! We have an Axpert 8K48V installed with 2 Dyness 48V/75A LiFe batteries installed. The batteries are wired up in parallel. There are 4 solar panelsystem connected to the inverter to charge the batteries during daylight hours. Presently, the system works - the PV charges tte battery which run the load. At night the battery is on Bypass and Escom charges the battery The problem is - only ONE batter, the Master is charged. The installer said that once the Master is fully charged, the Slave will start acceptin a charge. This is the 4th day since commissioning and the Slave still has not been charged. The installer has been too busy to come by. Please Brainstrust, what needs to be done to get the Slave working? Awaiting anxiously for some guidance . Regards Sam the Ham

Hi Everyone. Here comes a totally new green one! We have an Axpert 8K48V installed with 2 Dyness 48V/75A LiFe batteries installed. The batteries are wired up in parallel. There are 4 solar panelsystem connected to the inverter to charge the batteries during daylight hours. Presently, the system works - the PV charges tte battery which run the load. At night the battery is on Bypass and Escom charges the battery The problem is - only ONE battery, the Master, is charged. The installer said that once the Master is fully charged, the Slave will start acceptin a charge. This is the 4th day since commissioning and the Slave still has not taken a charge. The in staller has been too busy to come by. Please Brainstrust, what needs to be done to get the Slave working? Awaiting anxiously for some guidance . Regards Sam the Ham